Big effect
Rhodiola rosea significantly improved a demanding high-intensity running test in football players — but the benefit comes from a single, early-stage trial in trained athletes
This suggests Rhodiola may help maintain performance under fatigue, but because the study is among the first to test this in athletes, the results need replication before they can be generalized.
In a 4-week double-blind trial, competitive football players taking Rhodiola rosea showed a statistically significant improvement on the Yo-Yo IR2 test, which measures repeated high-intensity running. The supplement also appeared to reduce post-exercise blood lactate and enhance decision-making under fatigue. However, the study only included trained athletes, and the evidence is still preliminary, so it's unclear whether casual exercisers would see the same effect.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Rhodiola for Improved High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise Performance — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- 2026-02-24
- Nutrients
- PubMed: 41829897
- DOI: 10.3390/nu18050724
- Full study breakdown →
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